Cargill’s purpose-built mobile shiploader is now in use at the company’s Port Adelaide facility. Photo: Cargill

CARGILL has taken delivery of its export mobile shiploader in Port Adelaide, signalling a major new investment for the South Australia agriculture sector.

The shiploader is thought to be the first such unit in Australia, built to Australian standards and delivering superior loading rates of up to 400 tonnes per hour.

The unit loaded its first shipment of grain for export last week, and is the lynchpin of Cargill’s port facility now operating at Berth 20 at Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbor.

Cargill in Australia managing director Erik Wibholm said the shiploader reinforced Cargill’s long-term commitment to Australian agriculture.

“This new port facility will bring investment to the Port Adelaide port zone, and enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of South Australia’s export supply chain.

“This is particularly important in large exports years like this one, where increased port capacity creates new market opportunities for South Australian growers.

“Increased port capacity also offers greater flexibility in serving export customer demand, which is so important in the ever competitive global commodity market.”

Click here for video of Cargill’s Port Adelaide operation.

Mr Wibholm said the facility will complement Cargill’s GrainFlow storage-and-handling sites at Crystal Brook, Maitland, Mallala, and Pinnaroo by ensuring the business remained competitive up country and along the SA bulk grain-export supply chain to the benefit of farmers and export customers.

The new facility will provide a high standard of quality control with the latest technology implemented to ensure world class sampling, testing and screening, ensuring quality product is delivered to customers.

Central to it is the mobile shiploader, which was designed in Europe.

Its significant components were supplied and built in Europe, and the superstructure was built in China.

Cargill announced plans for the Port Adelaide facility in June last year.

Source: Cargill